Recent claim Kavod takes opening-day Advent Stakes before estimated crowd of 15,000

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The sixth time was the charm for Kavod.

The 2-year-old made his sixth appearance in a stakes race on Friday and won the $150,000 Advent at Oaklawn Park by a length over 4-5 favorite Higher Standard. It was another length and a quarter back in third to Cairama.

The Advent was a six-furlong race that ushered in the earliest start to an Oaklawn meet in the track’s 118-year history. It also was the first 2-year-old stakes run at Oaklawn since 1973, it was announced Friday. The track typically opens its meet in January, but has expanded its season and will race 66 dates through May 8.

Temperatures in the mid-60s greeted racegoers Friday, with the estimated attendance 15,000. The sky was overcast for most of the afternoon and a light mist hit as the horses came on the track for the Advent. Many patrons spent their afternoon on the apron, some dressed in shorts for an unseasonably warm first Friday in December.

Kavod ($8.40) was content to sit about a length off the pace set by Oro Azteca, who took the field through an opening quarter in 21.61 seconds and a half-mile in 44.96. Higher Standard moved to the fore from there, as Kavod was guided off the rail. He was able to get past the leader in the later stages, covering the distance on a fast track in 1:09.97.

Francisco Arrieta was aboard for what was his third of four straight wins on the opening day card. He also took the sixth race with Botswana ($5.40) and the seventh race with Hypersport ($4.40), a 2-year-old filly who looked good winning a maiden special weight sprint at six furlongs in 1:09.66. Following the Advent he won the nightcap aboard Jets a Grinnin ($12).

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“I think Arrieta’s a very good jockey,” said winning trainer Chris Hartman. “He’s going to be riding horses for me.”

Kavod came into the Advent off a win in a $50,000 claiming race at six furlongs at Churchill Downs. He was claimed out of that Nov. 20 race by the Oklahoma-based partnership of James Rogers and Michael Robinson.

“He’s a cool little horse,” said Hartman. “I thought he was a sprinter when I took him. It seems that’s where he’s best.”

Kavod has now won 3 of 9 starts for earnings of $243,000. He is a son of Lea. Earlier in his career he won a maiden special weight at Belmont Park and was second in that track's Tremont Stakes.

* Take Charge Erica ($9.40) made history when she won the opener, which marked the earliest start to an Oaklawn meet. The first 2-year-old winner at the track since the 1970s was Requisition, who took the second race and paid $9.

* Handle on the nine-race card from all sources was $5.7 million, according to numbers put out by Oaklawn.